The Surprising Science of Soothing Babies: Why They Stop Crying When You Stand Up

The instinct to stand up and rock or sway when a baby is crying is driven by centuries of positive feedback from calmed babies. Research has shown that infants under 6 months of age carried by a walking mother immediately stop crying and exhibit a decrease in heart rate. This coordinated response is observed in other mammal species as well. Being carried induces physiological responses that calm and soothe babies, with the calming response being stronger than rocking or other movements. This instinctive behavior is a conserved component of mammalian mother-infant interactions.